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UK Taylor Swift Fans Warned Of Social Media Ticket Scams Ahead of Eras Tour

By Hugh Fort in Crime and Fraud, posted April 23, 2024

Taylor Swift fans in the UK are being ruthlessly targeted by social media scammers ahead of the American superstar's sold-out "Eras" tour.

The singer is set to tour the UK for the first time in six years this summer.

Fans are warned this has caused a flurry of activity of scammers trying to con fans desperate to see the show.

Analysis by Lloyds Bank shows a surge in fraud cases since tickets went on sale in July last year.

More than 600 customers have come forward having been scammed, which is significantly higher than an other musician.

The average amount lost was £332, though in some cases it was more than £1,000.

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Lloyds is basing its findings on its own data, but it is estimated there are like to be more than 3,000 victims who have lost more than £1 million.

More than 90 percent of cases reported to Lloyds were over fake adverts or posts on Facebook and Facebook Marketplace.

A search revealed dozens of unofficial groups looking to buy and sell tickets for Taylor Swift concerts.

All the UK dates are sold out.

This means many more fans could be targeted in their desperation to try to see the shows.

Things to look out for

Purchase scams happen when someone is tricked into sending money via bank transfer to buy goods or services that don’t exist.

Ticket scams usually involve fake adverts, posts or listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices, or access to events which have already sold out at inflated prices.
Victims are asked to pay upfront for the tickets, but once the payment is made, the scammers disappear. This leaves the buyer without the tickets and out of pocket.
When tickets for an event are scarce, fraudsters know they can cash in on desperate fans willing to pay much more, by falsely claiming to have tickets for sale.
There are often two waves of fraud; the first when tickets go on sale and the second around the time an event takes place.

Liz Ziegler, Fraud Prevention Director, Lloyds Bank, said:

“For her legion of dedicated Swifties, the excitement is building ahead of Taylor’s Eras Tour finally touching down in the UK this summer. However cruel fraudsters have wasted no time in targeting her most loyal fans as they rush to pick up tickets for her must-see concerts.

“It’s easy to let our emotions get the better of us when we find out our favourite artist is going to be performing live, but it’s important not to let those feelings cloud our judgement when trying to get hold of tickets.

“Buying directly from reputable, authorised platforms is the only way to guarantee you’re paying for a genuine ticket. Even then, always pay by debit or credit card for the greatest protection".

“If you’re being asked to pay by bank transfer, particularly from a seller you’ve found on social media, that should immediatly set alarm bells ringing".

How to safely buy concert tickets

Buy from trusted retailers – only purchase tickets from well-known, official ticket selling (or reselling) platforms. Take extra precautions when buying tickets from third-party sellers.
Be cautious on social media – you don’t know if the user profile or tickets are genuine. It’s easy for fraudsters to create fake ads including pictures of real tickets.
Avoid deals that look too good to be true – tickets for sale at low prices or for sold-out events should ring alarm bells. Ask yourself if the deal seems realistic.
Pay with your debit or credit card – this helps to protect your money should something go wrong. PayPal is another option that’s usually safer than paying by bank transfer.

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